Review Blog

Aug 09 2011

The road to Goonong by David Cox

Allen and Unwin, 2011. ISBN 9781 742375212.
(Ages 7+) Recommended. Historical picture book. David Cox remembers
his
childhood home with tenderness and warmth in this wholly engrossing
story of the cycle of life. His family's farm is depicted with
affection as he tells us of his early days when going to the local
town
was a major event, harnessing the old horse into the gig, made by
dad
from an old trailer no longer used as one since the car that pulled
it
had been sold. The depression makes inroads into their farm, but
they
carry on, until the drought of later years sees their animals die,
the
crops fail, necessitating the sale of their home. But between these
events, Cox details the life on his farm. We hear of horses around
their
farm, the blacksmith's shop, the swagman on the road and the
hilarious
tale picking up a neighbour. We see the children milking the cows,
working with dad, going to a local dance, all recalling the simple
fun
to be had by children in the past. All recreates the innocent
time for the children, but in the background hints are given about
the
cyclical nature of life on the land. The Aboriginal group, the
Bayali,
are moved on, the blacksmith shop closes down, animals begin to die
as
the drought sets in, war is declared and Darwin is bombed, until
finally all is sold and the family must go to the city to live,
while
dad works further out west to support them.
A beautiful book that deals with life in the past for many
Australian
families, showing their daily routines, hinting at darker forces,
but
always stressing the underlying warmth of the family. The
illustrations
by David Cox, in water colour and pen and ink, reveal much that the
text omits, and the two compliment each other. This will be a lovely
book to use in the classroom when discussing life in the past and
changes in Australia's lifestyles, and also of life within a loving
family.
Fran Knight